CL meter question and problem

[laskadog]

I just received a CL I bought. Unfortunately the meter is off by 4 stops. Is this easily adjustable? Tried 2 batteries that both work in my M5 and QL17.
Another thing I can't figure out is what that black thing is that appears in the top right at 1/250s. Is that the flash sync speed?
I'm trying to see if I should send it back or keep it.

 

[Chris Bail]

The meter is probably dead.

The problem mine had was that the meter was accurate, but only in certain lighting conditions...so it couldn't be relied on whatsoever.

You can get a new one put in by Sherry Krauter, but it doesn't make sense to spend the money to do it. Trust me...I had mine CLA'd and the meter replaced. It cost as much as I spent on the body. That being said, the camera is now just like new again.

I'd recommend a handheld meter or iPhone app for metering.

 

[laskadog]

Too bad. I'm really loving this little thing. Might be worth the money. How do I get in touch with this Sherry Krauter?

 

[Chris Bail]

www.sherrykrauter.com

I had to wait a while for my camera, but it had a full overhaul and meter replacement. Good as new when I got it back. Sherry was very responsive to my communication as well...particularly when I phoned her. Good luck!

Also, as far as I know she's just about the only person doing meter replacements in these cameras.

 

[laskadog]

Well, well, well. I just put 2 and 2 together. I thought that the meter was 4 stops under because the needle was way below the center, but then remembered that that means over exposed. So I checked and the battery that was in the camera when he shipped it to me and it was a 1.5v. The second battery I used to check it was also a 1.5v. Luckily I have an old 625 lying around that I put in (I thought that thing was dead) and the meter is accurate.

Still, does anyone know why that little black thing appears in the top right at 1/250s? Really curious.

 

[Chris Bail]

I use a wein cell replacement for the camera. It works well. I also have a CRIS adapter for a 386 battery, I believe. It is not as good a fit.

 

[Dez]

The little piece that appears at the top right is for doing the battery check. It will appear at different shutter speeds depending on the film speed set. To check the battery, rotate the shutter dial until the little square is centred in the notch at the top right, then with the wind lever pulled out from the body, push the battery check button on the front of the camera. The needle should end up somewhere near the centre notch.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[Godfrey]

Funny ... Never knew that before I saw this question and looked it up in the manual... And this is my third CL in as many decades!

It's as Dez said: you turn the shutter speed dial until the flag appears, then press the battery check button. If the meter needle moves to the central cut out, it's good.

If you don't have a manual, you can get a PDF of the original manual from this site:
http://www.butkus.org/chinon/leica/leica_cl/leica_cl.htm

It's worthwhile making the donation. There are a wealth of otherwise unobtainable camera manuals there.

G

 

[newspaperguy]

Thank you Dez!

OMG I love this list.

That was another gem that I had never heard before.

(And I've used my CL for three-years.)

 

[laskadog]

So I went to a local tech to have him take a look at the CL. The shutter speeds were spot on. The meter was off by almost 2 stops apparently. The fix was a few dabs of a washable marker on the white meter dot thing. Perfect metering now.

 

[Chris Bail]

That's good to hear.

Hopefully it stays accurate for you.

 

[laskadog]

Has anyone tried adjusting the meter as per this article?
http://photo.net/leica-rangefinders-forum/00C1kg

If so, I was contemplating adjusting mine but wondering if I can/should adjust it to a 1.5v battery while I'm at it.

 

[Dez]

Yes, it is not hard to adjust, and it can be calibrated to a 1.55v cell at the same time, but there is one challenge. The metal cover is very thin, and the glue used to hold it on is very strong, so you will almost certainly mangle the cover in the process of removing it unless you are extremely careful. I currently have a near-mint CL, I have to use one of those little button cell adapters to get correct meter readings, but having had the experience before of prying the cover off, I am leaving it as it is for now.

What was the stuff about dabs of marker on something?? That sounds like a very strange solution to a circuit calibration issue. Some bodges are too much for the Bodger Extraordinaire.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[laskadog]

Thanks Dez,

Yeah, the washable marker on the cell worked rather well I must say. It just blocks some light from hitting the meter. I ran a half dozen rolls through it without a single bad exposure. I could just leave it as is, but not sure it is a good long term solution. I was told that a little alcohol would wash it right off.

 

[Brian Levy]

I use the CRIS adaptors as I have the CLASS and a couple of light meters that used the 625 so, the adaptor seemed the better way. It works perfectly in the CL and Weston Ranger light meter. Also, the Metrawatt light meter. Have not tried it in the Yashica FX-3 yet but see no reason why it should not work.